Testimonials

Education Professionals

EVALUATION: The University of South Australia awarded a 1st Class Distinction for an Honours’ Thesis on Stories of Us. Richard Stephens’ project (with Dr. Barbara Spears as second author), involved a pilot evaluation of the use of the primary Bullying resource – and recorded a significant positive shift in student attitudes. The quantitative study involved 56 students from 3 classes (Years 4/5, 5/6 & 7) and concluded that: "Viewing the Stories of Us videos and participation in the corresponding class work had a measurable, statistically significant, positive influence on student attitudes towards victims". Importantly, the post-intervention findings included a 19.6% increase in those who disagreed with the statement: 'Kids who get picked on usually deserve it' (n=53). The qualitative summary includes a comment from the school counsellor: "I thought the sessions went extremely well. The classes maintained interest throughout, even the third viewing, which surprised me. The kids really related to the story and the characters. It was a valuable resource which complimented the work that we have been doing on bystanders very well".

"Stories of Us is the best, most realistic account of bullying in schools that I have come across. The videos provide an excellent way of introducing the subject of bullying in schools to students as a prelude to constructive classroom discussion. Unlike many other videos on the same theme, Stories of Us will hold the interest of students because the stories are told in dramatic form by students as only they can tell it. These videos provide compulsive viewing for both children and educators."
   Dr Ken Rigby, University of South Australia

"APPA takes great pleasure in endorsing two video resources for upper primary students on Bullying and Belonging.  These are areas that all of us grapple with on a daily basis in our schools and these two videos have been developed in consultation with student counsellors, teachers, Mindmatters and beyondblue.  They really are a fantastic resource and should be in every primary school in the nation."
   Australia Primary Principals Association

"Stories of Us is wonderful resource that engages young people and leads them
in discussing bullying situations. A great resource for schools."
   Andrew Fuller, Clinical Psychologist & Family Therapist

“I didn't have high expectations of the video series even though in my initial viewing of it I thought it was quite good. As a teacher you can be inundated with well-being products. But the impact of the video on the kids was unbelievable. They recognised their own language, behaviours and culture, it blew them away.”
    Kate Pollock, Teacher, Hillsmeade Primary School, Victoria

“The students were highly engaged in the videos. The teacher notes encouraged excellent discussion in our classroom. One of the best resources I have ever used.”
   Karen Box, Student Counsellor, Streaky Bay Area School, SA

"Many of the issues I deal with when counselling students or dealing with issues of Student Behaviour Management revolve around bullying and harassment. These three videos are outstanding, they're Australian, they're real and they present it as it is."
      Louise Ward, Middle School Co-ordinator,
       Student Behaviour Management, Henley High School

"The striking characteristic of the video was the absolute sense of reality and credibility of both characters and scenarios. It accurately and poignantly portrays what, regrettably for many, is a daily occurrence. Viewing the video, I was convinced its contents would strike an immediate and strong chord with students. The vignettes would give rise to at least three lessons, and appraisal and strategy development. An excellent resource."
      David Richards, Student Counsellor, Craigmore High School

"This resource is a valuable contribution to invite young people to take a stand against bullying and harassment."
      Brook Friedman, Manager Five Schools Bullying Prevention Project

>Interviews with host school teachers.

Students

“I never thought about what I should do as a person (bystander) who knows about someone else that gets bullied. Now I think I will try and help support them.”
    Student,  Emmanuel College, QLD

“I thought the victims actually kept egging on the bullies, so then the bullies did it... but they don't. The vicitms are normal people.”
    Student D,  Pilot Evaluation

“I think the class really learnt something from it.”
    Student G,  Pilot Evaluation

A trial class was run with a Year 9 class at an average suburban public secondary school –– under normal circumstances, with their teacher conducting the class. The only concession to the trial process was that both versions of the episode were run in one double lesson, which would ideally be run over two separate sessions.

The students were totally engaged in the video, and there was lively discussion afterwards. They watched the Play Version, were asked questions from the Teacher's Guide to trigger discussion, then they watched the Segmented Version – this time with more in-depth questions. The discussion was so focused that they ran out of class time. However the Year 9 students asked to stay back into their lunch period so they could see the video to the end a second time!

When asked for feedback as to how the resource might be improved, the students only criticism was that the video "could have been longer".

Some of the students asked for more details of the dramatised characters' private lives – they were convinced that what they were watching was real.